Improved tool for fastening tubes ln boilers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBT. MCCONNELL, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED TOOL FOR FASTENING TUBESIN BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,287, dated August 8,1855.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT McOoNNELL,

, of Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and Improved Tool for Fastening Boiler-Tubes; and

panyin g drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure1 represents a longitudinal vertlcal Y section of this invention, theline x x, Fig. 2,

indicating the plane of section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of thesaine, taken in the plane indicated by the line y y, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a tool composed of a mandrel provided with aseries of inclined grooves which form guides for a double set ofdies--one set for expanding and the other for flanging-in combinationwith a follower-nut, to be used particularly with the anging-dies insuch a manner that by the combined action of the mandrel and theexpanding-dies the expansionbead at the inner edge of the tubesheet isformed, andat the same time the outer end of the tube is spread over theouter edge of the tube-sheet, thus keeping the tube firmly in its place,and by the subsequent action of the Hanging-dies the outside flange ofthe tube is pressed up iirml y against the tubefsheet and a tight jointis effected with little loss of time and without the use of a hammer,the mandrel being fed up and turned by the action of an ordinaryratchet-brace.

A represents a mandrel, made of steel or any other suitable material,and provided with a series of grooves, a, which are inclined or taperingdown from the screw-shank b toward the tip or inner end, c, of themandrel, as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The grooves a formthe guideways for a double set of dies, d e, one set being intended forexpanding the. boiler-tube and the other set to press the flan ge formedon the outer end of the tube up solid against the outer surface of thetube-sheet.

In the tool represented in the drawings three dies are shown of eachclass; but it is obvious that this number might be increased, ifdesired, and perhaps it might also be decreased. At all events, I do notwish to confine myself to any particular number of dies, but reserve theright to change the same as may appear desirable. i

Inordertoholdthediesintheirguide-grooves, a spiral spring, f, is broughtto bear on them, and a nut, g, at the inner end or tip of the mandrelprevents the dies from dropping out when the tool is not in use.

The screw-shank b is fitted with a nut, l1, which is usedin combinationwith the Hanging-dies c, as will be presently explained, and said shankterminates in a square, t', calculated to fit into an `ordinaryratchet-brace, which serves to feed up the tool and to turn it when thedies begin to act on the tube.

The expanding-dies d are provided with a projection, k, which reachesover the end of the tube, and with a semicircular bead, l, intended toform the beading-projection at the back or inner surface of thetube-sheet.

The inner or working ends of the Hangingdies e are curved out andprovided with noses m, formed to correspond to the desired shape of thelian ges to be produced on the outer ends of the tubes.

The operation of this tool is as follows: After the end of the tube hasbeen passed through the tube-sheet, the dies d are introduced and soadjusted that the edge of the projection la bears against the tubesheet,as shown in Fig. 1, and thereby the beading projection l is brought toits proper depth in the flue. By pressing the mandrel in by the feed ofthe ratchet and turning it at the same time a few revolutions, the Hueis put solid in its place. After this has been accomplished the feed ofthe ratchet is eased off and the nut h is brought up to the Hanging-diesand the mandrel is fed up with the ratchet until the ange at the outerend of the tube is pressed up solid against the tube-sheet, and aperfectly steam-tight joint is produced with little trouble and withoutjar on any part of the boiler.

. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A tool forfastening boiler-tubes, composed of a mandrel with a series of inclinedgrooves, in combination with a double set of dies, d e, and nut h, to beused in connection with the expanding-dies e, substantially as and forthe purpose, set forth.

ROBERT MGGONN ELL. Witnesses:

STEPHEN ELLIS, Roer. SHIELDs.

